Arsenal are keeping tabs on Manchester United star Marcus Rashford, in what would be one of the biggest transfers the Premier League has ever seen.
The 25-year-old has been at the Red Devils since the age of eight, becoming an icon at Old Trafford on and off the pitch and taking the No.10 shirt at his boyhood club. This season, Rashford has taken his game to new heights, too, netting 21 goals and registering eight assists in 34 appearances.
But despite the United hierarchy triggering a one-year extension in Rashford's deal, he is still only contracted at Old Trafford until 2024. This summer would be the last chance for Manchester United to cash in on the player, should he fail to sign a new deal.
That's where Arsenal come in. According to Football Insider, the north Londoners are monitoring the situation and have a long-standing interest in the England international.
Arsenal strengthened their squad in the January transfer window with Leandro Trossard joining as another left-wing option but Rashford can play all across the frontline, too. He would likely be a first-choice option ahead of Gabriel Martinelli in current form but could also fill in on the right for Bukayo Saka.
The transfer, were it to happen, would send shockwaves through football. This would be new ground for Arsenal, who have usually only bought rivals' players when it suited the selling club, such as Jorginho recently from Chelsea, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City and the likes of Mikael Silvestre and Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Manchester United.
Arguably the last time that Arsenal pulled off such a coup was in 2001, when the Gunners snared Sol Campbell from Tottenham Hotspur – but Campbell was a free transfer. It's possible that United would rather let Rashford leave for nothing than to a rival.
Both Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest in Rashford before, though United's likely imminent takeover would perhaps facilitate new contract talks for the forward, who has been one of the best players in the league this season and surely remains a priority to keep at Old Trafford.
Rashford is valued at €55 million by Transfermarkt.
More Arsenal and Manchester United stories
Formal bids are set to be submitted to buy United. The club had a quiet January window but brought in Marcel Sabitzer on deadline day after Christian Eriksen picked up a long-term injury.
Arsenal look like investing well this summer, according to reports. Interest in Declan Rice is ramping up – and the Gunners may have to break their transfer record for him – while Folarin Balogun's form on loan is posing interesting questions for Arteta.
Meanwhile, Glen Johnson has stated that Arsenal's success is temporary.
